The Big Move: How to Transition Your Relative into a Nursing Home

Broaching the subject of moving your aging loved one into a nursing home can be touchy for everyone involved. You want the best care for them and they want to maintain their independence, but you may not have the financial or emotional resources to do that any longer.

It is also difficult to explain to someone you love that you are putting them somewhere for their own good. The initial nursing home conversation between elderly parent and adult child might be painful and awkward, but if the best option is assisted living then it is likely youll soon be making appointments to visit facilities in your area.

Once your family has selected a nursing home you must begin to prepare for a very difficult day, and that is the day you move them into the facility. Although the choice has already been made, moving your loved ones belongings and saying your first good-bye can be equally jarring for both parties.

Because this is a very special and important day for your entire family, Pitman, Kalkhoff, Sicula & Dentice has compiled a short guide to making the moving day transition as positive and easy as possible.

Moving Day Tips

1. Talking to your loved one about what to expect can help reduce anxiety. Discuss how their room will be set up, what daily activities might be like and how often you might visit;
2. Make sure to bring things from home that your loved one has made or collected to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere;
3. If your loved one makes a negative comment, remember to acknowledge that this is an extremely difficult day for them, and ask them how they feel. If they express their desire to go home remember to counter with something like, I know, I wish you could come home, too, but remind them that this will be a good decision for everyone;
4. Bring the outdoors inside with fresh flowers or plants to liven up their new space;
5. Remain vigilant about the care your loved one receives by staff in your presence. As moving day can be hectic, watch as caretakers help your loved one get from place to place and notice the tone they use while speaking to them; and
6. Before you leave, take a short stroll with your loved one, discuss feelings and remain positive throughout the conversation. This is an important time to connect with your loved one and remind them that you will always be there for them, even though they are living in a new place.

Whether your final moments on move-in day are cheery or tearful, it is important to be in tune with your relatives emotions and respond to them appropriately. We all have emotional baggage, but move-in day is not the time to give in to petty arguments. It is a day to support your elderly loved one and help them get the care they deserve in their new home.

In future visits, watching for signs of negligence or abuse is critical to keeping your loved one safe, healthy and happy. If you ever suspect mistreatment, contact authorities and remove your loved one from the home immediately.

As the largest nursing home abuse law firm in Wisconsin, our nursing home abuse attorneys know how important it is to find a staff of helpful and reliable caretakers to watch over your loved one.

Visit the Pitman, Kalkhoff, Sicula & Dentices nursing home database to research assisted living facilities in your area or report abuse or contact a Milwaukee personal injury attorney at our firm if you believe that you have a case of nursing home abuse.